Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL76001’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘BBCAL76001’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; purple-colored petals with a darker purple-colored central band encircling the yellow-colored throat; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBCAL76001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘BBCAL76001’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branchingCalibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower coloration and goodgarden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 25, 2014 of Calibrachoa sp.‘Duealmidpu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,717, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identifiedas code number 14CB142-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall,Calif. on Jun. 9, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. sinceJun. 9, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BBCAL76001’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BBCAL76001’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant        habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Purple-colored petals with a darker purple-colored central        band encircling the yellow-colored throat.    -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe female parent, ‘Duealmidpu’, in plant habit as plants of the newCalibrachoa are more freely branching than plants of ‘Duealmidpu’. Inaddition, plants of the new Calibrachoa are more tolerant to pathogenscommon to Calibrachoa plants than plants of ‘Duealmidpu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not        as trailing as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI99’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,679. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘USCALI99’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than        plants of ‘USCALI99’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants        of ‘USCALI99’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa have greater        resistance to fading than flowers of plants of ‘USCALI99’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI11’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,968. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘USCALI11’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than        plants of ‘USCALI11’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants        of ‘USCALI11’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI11’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘USCALI11’ have light red purple-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘BBCAL76001’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘BBCAL76001’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 11.5-cmcontainers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and undercultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. Duringthe production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18°C. to 27° C. Plants were six weeks from planting rooted cuttings whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘BBCAL76001’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealmidpu’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,717.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 14CB142-02, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to ten days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four to five            weeks at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About five to six            weeks at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly            spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous to            vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely            branching habit with about five primary lateral branches            each with about two secondary branches; dense and bushy            appearance.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 8.5            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 10            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 21 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 10.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 5 mm to 8 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading.        -   Texture and luster.—Minute pubescence; matte.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 145A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 146D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; leaves simple.        -   Length.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Width.—About 1 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Rounded to broadly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute            pubescence; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;            venation, close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Mostly smooth with scattered pubescence;            matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with            typically about 130 flowers and flower buds developing per            plant; flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa            begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants            flower continuously from the spring though the summer until            frost.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Minute            pubescence; matte. Color: Close to N200D tinted with close            to N77D.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm by 2.9 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 4 mm by 7 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a            flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About            1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape:            Fan-shaped. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Entire. Petal            texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous,            velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower surface:            Minute pubescence especially along the veins; matte. Throat            texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Tube            texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color: Petal            lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to N79B to N79C.            Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to N77D.            Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Slightly darker            than 77A; band surrounding the throat, close to N79A;            venation, close to N79A; color does not change with            development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 79D; venation, close to 79A; color does not fade with            development. Throat: Close to 7A; venation, close to 152B.            Tube: Close to 145C; venation, close to 152C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Sepal            length: About 9 mm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:            Lanceolate to narrowly elliptical. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal            margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Sepal color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 20° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color:            Close to 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Four per flower.            Filament length: About 9 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C.            Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther            color: Close to 8C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 8A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 1 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color:            Close to 145C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:            Oval. Stigma color: Close to 146B. Ovary color: Close to            144A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not            been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa to date.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘BBCAL76001’ as illustrated and described.